Yin-Yang Mystic Thunder

Although Ma Xiaotao did not want Yan Shaozhe to worry, how could the commotion in her room escape a Super Douluo's notice?

Outside her door, Yan Shaozhe supported Mu En, his face full of worry.

Yan Shaozhe did not want anything to happen to Ma Xiaotao, but this was her own choice.

The fledgling that had always sheltered beneath his wings had spread her own and charged headlong at fate.

With Mu En here, even in the worst-case scenario, they could keep her alive.

"Teacher, Xiaotao, she..."

Mu En's face was full of appreciation. "Shaozhe, if you'd had even half of Xiaotao's resolve when you were young, you would have broken through to rank ninety-seven long ago."

Yan Shaozhe remained silent.

Mu En said mildly, "In a sense, Xiaotao's talent and strength of will have already surpassed those of her ancestor."

"They say that in his early years, her ancestor Ma Hongjun frequented brothels to vent his evil fire. Though it worked, he also lost his chance to transcend himself. Even after he ultimately attained ultimate fire, he still fell a fraction short."

"Otherwise, her ancestor Ma Hongjun might have become the Fire God rather than the Phoenix God."

Inside the room, the flames on Ma Xiaotao's back wove themselves into a pair of wings, making her look like a true phoenix.

The soul power within her surged and steamed, and even her blood vessels burned relentlessly, determined to reforge and temper every part tainted by evil.

Every inch of her body was bleeding, but the blood evaporated in the intense heat the moment it seeped onto her skin, forming wisps of bloody vapor in the air that flowed back into her body with each breath.

The wings gradually folded inward, wrapping Ma Xiaotao in unquenchable flames like a newly formed egg.

They awaited her rebirth, when she would break herself down and build herself anew.

The intense heat in the room persisted. Mu En pointed toward another room. "Let's go meet this interesting little fellow."

Qi Xuan was cultivating like mad.

This was the Sea God Pavilion, a supreme treasure land of auspicious energy that even ordinary Inner Court students could not enter.

The Golden Tree stood right above his head, and the natural energy here was at least ten times denser than outside.

This might be the only chance he would ever have in his life.

If I don't absorb it now, when will I?

Even when Mu En and Yan Shaozhe walked in, he did not stop cultivating.

Qi Xuan had always been a headache for Yan Shaozhe.

There seemed to be something very unusual about Qi Xuan's bearing.

It had nothing to do with his strength.

He always seemed to face the world as though none of it concerned him, frivolous and mocking.

Yet when it came to certain small matters, he showed extraordinary seriousness and persistence.

His soul power had clearly reached rank thirty long ago, yet he had shown no intention of obtaining a soul ring.

Even here in the Sea God Pavilion, he displayed little respect, though he was certainly diligent about fleecing it for all it was worth.

"Dean Yan, this elderly gentleman is...?" Although Qi Xuan had long known that this old man was Mu En, he still had to go through the motions on the surface.

"My hollow fame has long faded. Just call me Mu En. I hear you've decided what you want Shaozhe to help you with?"

Qi Xuan nodded. "That's right. Yesterday, I exchanged for an item in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's collection. It should already have been delivered to the academy. A few things also happened along the way..."

He then told the two men about his dealings with Mr. Yu.

Yan Shaozhe's expression turned somewhat odd. He knew about the relationship between Mu En and the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had been annihilated all those years ago, the surviving clansmen had rebuilt their sect elsewhere, forming the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

But another branch, descended from Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, had remained at Shrek, putting down roots and flourishing to this day.

Because of Grandmaster's strangely obstinate disposition, this branch had always taken their mothers' surnames.

Mu En was a descendant of that branch.

Mu En still wore a kindly expression. "It's fine. No one in Shrek City may lay a hand on the students. In that case, the item you exchanged for must be the thunder dragon essence?"

So the Treasure Gathering Pavilion really is run by Shrek.

"Exactly." Qi Xuan's expression grew serious. "I want to absorb the thunder dragon essence, and I'd like to ask Dean Yan to stand guard for me. If the absorption fails and the essence escapes, you could capture and seal it again."

Mu En mused, "It is certainly wonderful to be young and accomplished, brimming with ambition. But there is a story behind this thunder dragon essence. Would you care to listen to an old man ramble for a bit?"

"Please enlighten me, Mu En."

"Legend has it that the Dragon God had the Nine Great Dragon Kings under his command, each representing one of nine attributes: water, fire, earth, wind, light, darkness, space, time, and stability. Do you know why there was no lightning dragon king?"

"There are many ferocious beasts on the continent, but why is not a single one of them of the lightning attribute?"

Qi Xuan shook his head blankly. Tang Jia San Shao never explained that either. Maybe he forgot.

The great hand of providence.jpg

Mu En said solemnly, "Because thunder represents the Heavenly Dao. It is the embodiment of the will of heaven and earth, and a manifestation of heavenly might and punishment."

Something instantly flashed through Qi Xuan's mind.

"Indeed, when soul beasts undergo their heavenly tribulations, they must withstand the lightning head-on. But how can the thunder cultivated within a lightning-type soul beast's body compare with the rightful might of heaven? Naturally, they cannot break through. That is why lightning-type soul beasts that surpass a hundred thousand years are exceedingly rare. Even if they are lucky enough to survive their first heavenly tribulation, they must endure a minor heavenly tribulation every ten thousand years afterward. Thus, no lightning-type soul beast has ever cultivated to two hundred thousand years."

Only then did Qi Xuan understand. The lightning attribute was essentially the will of heaven and earth. No wonder lightning was absent from the seven attributes Gu Yuena controlled.

While Mu En and Qi Xuan chatted about the thunder dragon essence, Yan Shaozhe had already fetched that wisp of essence for him.

The flickering Thunder Dragon remained coiled around the branch, darting nimbly through the air, but the moment he saw Mu En, he flopped down.

He lay rigidly across the branch, as though dead.

Mu En examined him closely and reached a conclusion. "Indeed, a member of the thunder dragon lineage failed his tribulation. This essence must have formed from the union of the heavenly lightning tribulation and the will left behind after the Thunder Dragon perished. Most precious of all, a trace of sentience has already developed within it. Truly, it has wrested creation's wonders from heaven itself. Such a thing would be difficult to reproduce."

"I've seen your soul skill. Crimson Palace Thunder arises when the heart's fire and the lungs' metal energy rise and touch, drawing forth a discharge. It is a method of yang thunder."

"This essence, however, arose unseen after the Thunder Dragon's tribulation, with yang energy working beneath the surface to bring it forth. It follows the path of yin thunder."

"Yin and yang complementing each other would indeed be greatly beneficial. Heavenly Dragon Douluo likely knew he had little time left and hoped to use this object to force a breakthrough and attain Yin-Yang Mystic Thunder."

"Had he truly succeeded, the world would likely have gained another Titled Douluo with an ultimate martial soul."

"Ultimate lightning?" Yan Shaozhe exclaimed involuntarily.

"Yin-Yang Mystic Thunder can already touch upon the chaos origin. Naturally, it is ultimate lightning."

Qi Xuan froze. "Only a Titled Douluo can absorb it? Wouldn't I explode, then?"

Mu En nodded slightly. "Only a trace of heavenly might remains, but with your current physique, I'm afraid it would still blast you to pieces. Return here when you have five rings, and you should be able to absorb it."

"Then thank you in advance, Mu En, Dean Yan." Qi Xuan thanked them sincerely.